G'Day jzk,
I tried out your suggestion yesterday with my AI and removed the drive when I had cleared the shore obstacles. I sat the tethered drive on the front aka x-bar with the fins tucked under the hatch bungee and put the drivewell plug in.
I agree -it was like removing the brake!! The winds were only light, around 10 knots, but it felt like I was going faster than with the drive in. I really enjoyed the true sailing experience!
I didn't have time to do a proper comparison but it makes sense. Lately I have been paddling the AI in Adventure only mode when conditions are glassy smooth. Replacing the drive with the plug and pulling up the rudder increases my cruising speed by about 1.5km/h.
I can see me sailing the AI without the drive in becoming the standard for my future trips. I have always found the fluttering of the fins on the hull at speed annoying and this solves that problem. I also liked the less cluttered footwell.
I would never go out without taking the drive though. The great benefit when launching, retrieving and returning when the wind dies would be lost.
Now I need to work out a better way to store the drive when not in use. This adds to the versatility of the AI. Thanks for the suggestion.

I had sailed out to the pumping station on Lake Michigan, then I was on my way back. I had my Olympus 1030 SW waterproof camera, and while I was sailing I stuck the camera underwater in my hand to take a picture of the underside of the Kayak just for fun. I was just really surprised at how much drag my arm caused from putting the camera under the Kayak. That is what made me try pulling out the drive.

Yeah I agree with you about always taking the drive along with. I use it to pedal out to where I would start sailing.

I'd like to take it out too but I'm not sure how best to store it so I can get to it when I'm coming back into shore. Any recs?

I have sailed in very strong wind, with big swell, and the drive out. I had no problems with controlling the AI. I use a leash, and tuck the fins into the front hatch elastic, and make sure the drive shaft lies in the gap made by the edge of the hatch. It's never moved. From there its very easy to recover and fit, as I had to do when I lost my paddle. And you only need a short leash, as leashes everywhere are a nuisance. There's one for the drive, one for the paddle, and one for me to the AI. And that's without any fishing gear aboard!

But the plugs a problem, when removed, and I expect to lose that one day too. Need to figure out how to secure it.

I just put the drive well plug inside the round hatch in front of me. It can move around a bit in there, but hasn't migrated out of reach.

I also put the daggerboard well plug in there. For that, I hung a little rope toggle from the inside hatch rim, and I stick the string on the daggerboard well plug through the rope loop. Keeps it from getting away inside the hull, but is easy to flip free when you want to use it.

I just put the drive well plug inside the round hatch in front of me. It can move around a bit in there, but hasn't migrated out of reach. .

That's a possible, but when its really rough out there, I try not to open the hatch, cause there's water everywhere, even if you point into the wind. For one thing I have the waterproof Hobie "fishing" tackle box in there, with my car keys, so I would have to remove that, and you can't just open the hatch a wee bit to do that, it has to be 100% open. My dagger board plug came with a leash, so I have never had to worry about that.